Cognate interaction between human lymphocytes and eosinophils is mediated by beta 2-integrins and very late antigen-4.

Here the cognate interactions between human eosinophils and lymphocytes are studied. These interactions were measured in a double-colored FACS analysis by applying fluorescent red eosinophils (stained with hydroethidine, 40 mumol/L) and fluorescent green lymphocytes (stained with sulfidofluorescein diacetate, 100 mumol/L) in a ratio of 1:3. When normal eosinophils were mixed with a total lymphocyte preparation in stirred suspensions (37 degrees C), no physical interaction was present between both cell types.

Immunophenotyping of eosinophils recovered from blood and BAL of allergic asthmatics.

Studies of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from patients with allergic asthma have demonstrated active migration of eosinophils into the bronchial lumen after allergen challenge. The mechanisms mediating this eosinophil infiltration and cell activation are largely unexplained. The expression of several cell-surface molecules was measured on eosinophils derived from blood and BAL fluid 4 h after an allergen-induced early asthmatic reaction in order to find indications for a role of these molecules during extravasation to and activation in the bronchial compartment.

Upregulation of formyl-peptide and interleukin-8-induced eosinophil chemotaxis in patients with allergic asthma.

Background: The cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors, interleukin-3 and interleukin-5, are important modulators of eosinophilia and eosinophil function. In particular, eosinophil chemotaxis is very sensitive to cytokine priming.

Methods: We evaluated chemotactic responses of eosinophils from patients with allergic asthma.

Occupancy of platelet receptors for platelet-activating factor in asthmatic patients during an allergen-induced bronchoconstrictive reaction.

The administration of platelet-activating factor (PAF) to human subjects triggers asthma-like responses. We investigated whether a bronchoconstrictive reaction was accompanied by the release of PAF in the circulation of allergic asthmatics. The appearance of PAF was assessed by measuring the number of freely accessible PAF-receptors on platelets in vitro, assuming that the contact between platelets and PAF in vivo would reduce the receptor binding of [3H]PAF in vitro.

Inhibition of cytokine-primed eosinophil chemotaxis by nedocromil sodium.

Background: Eosinophil influx into the lung tissue is considered to be relevant for the pathogenesis of asthma. Various chemotactic factors may be responsible for this influx. Recently it has been demonstrated that the cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and interleukin-5 (IL-5) are present in the circulation of individuals with allergic asthma.